Last Updated on November 7, 2022 by
Are you trying to build muscle and looking for the best way to gain weight? You might want to consider liquid supplements.
Everyone wants to have a better physique, but with the countless products on the market, it can be quite overwhelming and confusing. Which is why I have put together this all-encompassing guide for you to reference when deciding which supplements are the best liquid supplements for weight gain. A lot of people are concerned about their health, which is why many of us choose to go to the gym and lift weights. Others go to different lengths trying to gain weight, whether it’s eating too much or going after supplements. But what happens when your options are limited because of your budget? If you want to know more about Liquid Supplements For Weight Gain, make sure you read this article.
Liquid Supplements For Weight Gain

If food alone isn’t making you gain weight, consider a liquid supplement. Liquid calories are not as filling as solid food, but these supplements may help you get the extra calories you need to gain. They’re a good source of calories, and many also supply vitamins and minerals. Consult your doctor to discuss the best weight-gaining drink for you.
Benefits of Liquid Supplements
Liquid supplements add calories to pack on pounds if you are underweight and struggling to gain, you have a high metabolism, or you simply can’t meet your daily calorie needs to gain weight for some reason. Athletes and bodybuilders may also turn to liquid supplements to help them add the calories needed to promote muscle gain.
According to a 2002 study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, for weight gain, you should drink liquid supplements in between meals so as not to affect your appetite at mealtime 1.
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- Liquid supplements add calories to pack on pounds if you are underweight and struggling to gain, you have a high metabolism, or you simply can’t meet your daily calorie needs to gain weight for some reason.
- Athletes and bodybuilders may also turn to liquid supplements to help them add the calories needed to promote muscle gain.
Liquid Meal Replacement Supplements

Liquid meal replacement supplements, which are typically recommended by healthcare professionals, are available at most supermarkets, pharmacies and big box stores. These supplements contain 220 to 350 calories per 8-ounce serving, depending on the brand and type. They also contain a balanced mix of carbs, protein and fat, along with most of the essential vitamins and minerals 7. If you have a poor appetite or simply can’t eat enough of the right foods to gain the weight you desire, meal replacement drinks may be the right option for you. Some manufacturers of these products also offer liquid supplements for specific disease states, such as diabetes and kidney disease. While meal replacement liquid supplements are convenient, they are also somewhat pricey.
- Liquid meal replacement supplements, which are typically recommended by healthcare professionals, are available at most supermarkets, pharmacies and big box stores.
- Some manufacturers of these products also offer liquid supplements for specific disease states, such as diabetes and kidney disease.
Weight Gainer Liquid Supplements
Weight gainer liquid supplements, marketed to athletes and bodybuilders, are usually found in health food stores or vitamin shops. Like liquid meal replacements, weight gainers contain a mix of carbs, protein and fat; however, they may also contain specific amino acids, herbs or other supplements touted as beneficial to those aiming to increase muscle mass 7. Weight gain liquid supplements are found in both ready-to-drink and powdered form. Calories vary greatly, ranging from 220 calories in an 8-ounce ready-to-drink supplement to 1,340 calories in two scoops of a powdered mix.
- Weight gainer liquid supplements, marketed to athletes and bodybuilders, are usually found in health food stores or vitamin shops.
- Like liquid meal replacements, weight gainers contain a mix of carbs, protein and fat; however, they may also contain specific amino acids, herbs or other supplements touted as beneficial to those aiming to increase muscle mass 7.
Protein Powders and Weight Gain
Protein powders are not the same as weight gainers; instead, these products typically contain only protein and sometimes small amounts of carbs and fat 7. While they are a source of calories, they may not contain as many calories as a meal replacement supplement or weight-gainer formula. Plus, they are not a balanced source of nutrition, which is important for weight gain, even when you’re trying to bulk up 1.
Homemade High-Calorie Drinks
While liquid supplements are a convenient source of calories, they are somewhat expensive. If you’re trying to gain weight on a budget, you may be able to create your own high-calorie liquid supplement with food in your fridge and pantry. Blend 1 cup of whole milk with 2 tablespoons of peanut butter and a large banana for a 460-calorie shake. For a thicker shake with 330 calories, blend 6 ounces of nonfat Greek yogurt with 1 cup of sliced strawberries, 1/4 an avocado and 1/2 cup of 100 percent orange juice.
- While liquid supplements are a convenient source of calories, they are somewhat expensive.
- If you’re trying to gain weight on a budget, you may be able to create your own high-calorie liquid supplement with food in your fridge and pantry.

Weight-Gain Supplements for a High Metabolism
You might be the envy of your friends, but a high metabolism that makes it difficult to gain weight isn’t always a gift, especially if you want to gain a few pounds. Weight-gain supplements might be a convenient way to add calories to get your weight up, but they might cause side effects in some people. Consult your doctor or dietitian to discuss weight-gain supplement choices for your needs.
Bodybuilding Weight-Gain Supplements
Bodybuilding weight gainers are specifically designed to add mass, and are often promoted as muscle builders. What sets these supplements apart from general meal-replacement supplements and protein powders is their calorie content. Weight-gainer formulas can have 750 calories or more in a two-scoop serving, and might even top out at 1,300 calories or more. You can mix the powder with milk or a plant-milk alternative to add even more calories.
Bodybuilding weight-gainers also contain a mix of carbs, protein, fat, vitamins and minerals. They might also contain specialized amino acids, such as branched chain amino acids, or BCAAs, as well as other nutrients that help improve workouts and muscle gains. How well these “extras” work depends on the exact ingredients in your supplement, but the primary benefit of a bodybuilding supplement will come from its calories and protein, not from expensive add-ins.
DIY Weight-Gain Supplements
If you’re already healthy, you may not need a specialized weight-gain supplement to help you get the calories you need. Instead of investing in expensive supplements, you can create your own supplements with high-calorie foods. Add 2 tablespoons of nonfat, dried milk powder to 1 cup of low-fat milk to increase each cup by 50 calories. Create a fruit smoothie with high-calorie milk. For example, blend 1 cup of high-calorie milk with 1 cup of blueberries, 1 cup of strawberries and 2 tablespoons of nut butter for a 500-calorie drink. If you can’t tolerate milk, use soy protein powder and mix with a plant-milk alternative, like soy milk or almond milk. Two tablespoons of soy protein powder has 60 calories.
Medical Weight-Gain Supplements
Unlike bodybuilding supplements, which you can buy at grocery and health food stores, medical weight-gain supplements are usually prescribed by a physician to address weight loss because of certain health conditions. As a source of calories, as well as carbs, protein, fat, vitamins and minerals, these supplements may also help you meet your calorie needs. Many of these supplements have undergone clinical testing and have proven to help increase calorie intake and promote weight gain. Drink these supplements between meals to limit their effect on your appetite.
Eat High-Calorie Foods
Weight-gain supplements may be convenient, but you can also get the calories you need from food. You’ll not only boost your calorie intake, you’ll also get nutrients you wouldn’t get from a supplement. Dried fruit, avocados, juice, peas, corn and sweet potatoes all make good high-calorie, nutrient-rich options that can help with weight gain. Include wheat germ, quinoa, dense whole-grain breads and raisin bran to increase your calorie intake. Eat beans, hummus, tofu, eggs, fatty fish such as salmon, as well as dairy products such as cheese and Greek yogurt to get high-quality protein in addition to calories. Healthy fats, such as vegetable oil, nuts and seeds, also add calories without a lot of bulk, which may help you get more calories without making you feel too full.
It’s always better to get the extra calories you need for weight gain from real food. But if you’re having a difficult time getting the calories you need from what you eat, you may consider a supplement. While there is no legal definition for the term natural on a food label, the Food and Drug Administration considers “natural” to mean that the food does not contain anything synthetic or artificial, so choosing a natural supplement helps minimize the chances you’ll consume tons of preservatives and processed ingredients 1. If you’re struggling to gain weight, consult your doctor or dietitian to help guide you toward the best food and supplement options.
Natural Weight Gain Powders
A weight-gain powder is an easy way to take in lots of extra calories — a serving of some weight gain powders could pack in more than 1,400 calories, along with nutrients to support muscle growth. Natural weight-gain supplements contain carbs, protein and fat, but may not contain processed or synthetic ingredients — including synthetic vitamins — found in other types of weight-gain powders.
Natural Weight Gain Drinks
All-natural, ready-to-drink weight-gain supplements are also available, and may be even more convenient if you don’t have time to mix a powdered product. These shakes tend to have fewer calories than weight gain powders, so they’re a good option if you only need a slight calorie boost for weight gain.
One organic or natural weight-gain drink features organic ingredients like whey protein, cane juice and sunflower oil, along with non-organic ingredients such as tricalcium phosphate, caraagenan gum and a vitamin blend.
DIY Natural Weight Gain Supplements
If you want a more natural weight-gain supplement, you may be better off creating your own using real food. For example, you can blend together 1 cup of whole milk with a large banana, 1 cup of strawberries and 2 tablespoons of peanut butter for a 520-calorie shake. Or blend 1 cup of 100-percent orange juice blended with 1/2 cup of tofu, a cup of fresh pineapple and 2 tablespoons of almond butter for a drink that supplies 475 calories. Use different combinations milk or plant-milk alternative, fruit, vegetables, nuts and seeds for a virtually limitless set of options for shakes — a must for avoiding diet boredom. Stir or blend nonfat dried milk powder or natural soy protein into your smoothies — they each have around 27 calories per tablespoon — for extra calories and protein in your drink 9.
- If you want a more natural weight-gain supplement, you may be better off creating your own using real food.
- Stir or blend nonfat dried milk powder or natural soy protein into your smoothies — they each have around 27 calories per tablespoon — for extra calories and protein in your drink 9.
Considerations for Weight Gain Supplements
Talk to your doctor to make sure supplements are safe for you. Don’t worry, thought because you can get all the calories you need from eating real, natural, whole foods. Add high-calorie options such as:
- sunflower or olive oil to your diet to increase your calorie
- nutrient intake
What Is Apetamin?
Illegal Supplement Used to Promote Weight Gain

Some people struggle to gain weight when their doctor or nutritionist recommends it or when trying to build muscle mass. This happens for various reasons. Some people are genetically very thin; some battle genetic or autoimmune diseases that make it hard to put on weight; some people have a low appetite or disordered eating that leads to inadequate food intake, and some people want to put on muscle but find it a struggle.
A recent trend in the weight gain industry had people turning to an illicit supplement — apetamin pills. Banned from sale in the U.S., consumers are forced to purchase apetamin from small online websites or social media.1 In this article, learn how apetamin works for weight gain, why it’s illegal, and what side effects to look out for.
What Is Apetamin?
Apetamin is a vitamin supplement used for weight gain. According to manufacturing labels and a product list from the company that developed apetamin (TIL Healthcare), apetamin syrup contains some combination of a prescription-only medication called cyproheptadine hydrochloride, vitamins, and amino acids (namely lysine). TIL Healthcare also has several other appetite stimulant products that contain cyproheptadine hydrochloride.
This combination of lysine, vitamins, and cyproheptadine hydrochloride is said to act as an appetite stimulant and increase the amount of food you can eat in a day. However, neither vitamins nor amino acids are known to increase appetite. Cyproheptadine hydrochloride is an antihistamine (a medicine that alleviates allergy symptoms) that has increased appetite listed as a known side effect.1
Why People Take Apetamin
The main reason people take apetamin is to gain weight, and that’s the obvious benefit of the substance. Cyproheptadine hydrochloride has been used as an appetite stimulant in medical settings, particularly for patients with cystic fibrosis, where low appetite is a side effect. It’s also been used to help malnourished children gain weight.2
People have used apetamin syrups and pills to help gain muscle, get stronger, and prepare for events like powerlifting meets and bodybuilding shows. Many naturally very thin women have also used apetamin products to add curves to their figures.
However, this singular benefit of apetamin—weight gain—does not outweigh the known side effects.
How Does Apetamin Work?
Consumers believe that apetamin promotes weight gain because of its active ingredient of cyproheptadine hydrochloride. This powerful antihistamine has been used as an appetite stimulant in malnourished children and people with chronic diseases, such as cystic fibrosis.1
Researchers and doctors aren’t entirely sure why cyproheptadine hydrochloride stimulates appetite, but a few possible scenarios exist.
For example, cyproheptadine hydrochloride may increase insulin-like growth factor hormone (IFG-1) in underweight children.3 This hormone has been linked to weight gain in malnourished children.
Cyproheptadine hydrochloride may also interfere with your brain’s hypothalamus, the small section that regulates appetite, cravings, food consumption, and many hormones.2
In animal studies, L-lysine, the amino acid found in apetamin syrup, has led to increased appetite and weight gain. Still, there’s no research on the appetite effects of l-lysine in humans.4
Much more research is needed to determine whether apetamin is an effective—and safe—weight gain supplement for humans.
Apetamin Pills Versus Syrup

Syrup is the more common way to take apetamin, but the drug also comes in pill form. The main difference between the two is that apetamin syrup contains a blend of vitamins and amino acids, while tablets or caplets only contain cyproheptadine hydrochloride.
Is Apetamin Legal?
It’s currently illegal to sell apetamin in many countries, including the U.S. because apetamin products contain a prescription-only drug called cyproheptadine hydrochloride. Cyproheptadine hydrochloride is an antihistamine used to treat allergy symptoms, such as sneezing, itchy and watery eyes, and runny nose.5
It’s only available with a prescription because of its potential side effects and safety concerns, which, on the severe side, include liver failure.1 On top of that, the FDA has not approved and does not regulate apetamin, which means that some (and possibly many) apetamin products don’t accurately disclose what they contain. This presents the risk of toxicity from any undisclosed ingredients.
Apetamin and other products that contain cyproheptadine hydrochloride are even on the FDA’s list of illegal medical imports to be seized and list of unapproved cough, cold, and allergy products.6 Because of these reasons, you won’t find apetamin at reputable food, vitamin, or supplement stores in the U.S.
Side Effects of Apetamin
The side effects of apetamin pills and syrup arise mainly from its active ingredient of cyproheptadine hydrochloride. According to the U.S. Library of Medicine, those side effects are:7
- Dry mouth
- Dry sinuses and throat
- Drowsiness and fatigue
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Chest congestion
- Headache
- Excitement or hyperactivity (particularly in children)
- Muscle weakness
Severe Side Effects of Apetamin
- Difficulty urinating (despite drinking water)
- Distorted vision
- Excessive nervousness
- Toxic liver failure
In the worst-case scenario, using apetamin or unprescribed cyproheptadine hydrochloride can lead to liver toxicity and liver failure.1 Excessive weight gain or obesity is also a risk for those who overuse apetamin.
Is It Safe to Use Apetamin for Weight Gain?
Because of legality issues and lack of regulation from the FDA, you can’t trust apetamin products to contain what they say they have on the label. Additionally, the side effects of the active ingredient cyproheptadine hydrochloride can be severe without a prescription (and even with a prescription). For those reasons, it’s unsafe to use apetamin for weight gain.